Apple TV Bridges the Gap
Apple TV, previously called iTV, acts as a bridge between a TV and a PC or Mac on a network, allowing users to watch movies, see TV, view photos, or listen to music from the iTunes Store or other sources. On its 40GB hard drive, users can store content transferred from a PC or Mac using iTunes. Or, they can stream content from as many as five other computers. And though Apple says the Apple TV is designed for big-screen, high-definition TVs (an HDMI connector makes this possible), it will work with other types of TVs through the composite connectors on the device's back as well.
The quality of the video will be "near DVD quality," according to Apple.
This bridge is a key one, connecting the computer and the TV in a way we haven't yet seen--that is, it will probably be fairly smooth, given Apple's ease-of-use track record. And the content is there too, as Apple now sells 100 movies on the iTunes Store. Jobs also announced that Paramount will be contributing movies to the iTunes Store--150 additional movies will be offered within the week.
The Apple TV will be available in February and will cost $299. Preorders are being taken now.
Consumer Electronics, Indeed
In another move away from a computer-centric product line, Jobs announced that Apple Computer is changing its name to the more succinct "Apple." Says Jobs: "The Mac, iPod, Apple TV, and iPhone. Only one of those is a computer. So we're changing the name."
Additional reporting by Robert Mullins, IDG News Service.
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